A sheltered housing complex has been overrun by FLEAS.

Pest controllers are fighting the infestation after it swamped the buildings.

Vermin busters have been called to Drongan’s Rowantree Court twice in a fortnight to tackle the plague.

Worried council chiefs were even forced to shut the unit’s kitchen and lounge in a bid to stop the spread.

It followed a string of complaints from staff and visitors who suffered bites.

One source at the base told the Post: “The place is crawling and it’s been going on for weeks.

“If you’re in the building for any amount of time you come out covered in bites.

“It’s totally unacceptable to have vulnerable people living in those conditions.”

It’s understood furious staff even resorted to eating their lunch outside to escape the infestation.

Katie Kelly, East Ayrshire’s head of housing and communities, confessed problems had been ongoing since August 7.

Environmental health bosses have ordered two treatments on the 18-home unit, with the latest taking place on Friday.

Ms Kelly said: “As a precautionary measure the council decided to temporarily close the kitchen and lounge until treatment was completed and the lunch club was cancelled until the following week.

“Residents were notified and Care at Home Services offered additional support to ensure that people who needed a meal for the remainder of this week would have one.”

She added: “By addressing the problem quickly, the council has tried to minimise the upheaval to our residents and put in place various avenues of support to reassure any concerns they might have.”